Ted & Gloria LaRoche have been passionate and generous leadership supporters of TennGreen Land Conservancy for over a decade. Recently, we sat down with them to reflect on their intentions regarding their philanthropy.
Q: What are you most passionate about? Why?
A: We’re passionate about our family, civic life (Democracy), and Earth (and all that’s in it). If one doesn’t start at home, the rest is built on sand; if we can’t self-govern without violence, all the rest is wasted; and if we destroy where we live, then we have no home.
Q: When did you get involved with TennGreen Land Conservancy?
A: In the early 2000s, when our daughter Ashley worked at the Tennessee Legislature with Kathleen Williams, TennGreen’s wise founder and former Executive Director. During this time, they successfully re-established conservation funding from a dependable revenue stream: land transfer recording fees.
Q: What attracted you to the mission of conserving land where people and nature can thrive?
A: If we can’t protect where we live, we’re doomed to die.
Q: In your opinion, what’s the most important work that this organization does?
A: We believe it’s keeping and increasing public awareness and involvement in conserving our environment, raising funds to enable conservation, and monitoring its successes and failures.
Q: Of what contribution or achievement are you most proud?
A: Speaking only of TennGreen, we’re most proud of being a small part of conserving Virgin Falls and its almost 1600-acre environs. And speaking of the Scouting world, being a larger part of the creation and funding of the nearly 1600-acre Latimer Wilderness Reservation, virtually next door to Virgin Falls.
Q: What do you hope TennGreen Land Conservancy will achieve in the near future? In the long term?
A: TennGreen is so successful due to its Board and leadership continually PLANNING the future and then assuring it! So, to name one particular objective is not my place, but, rather, to assist it in reaching all.
Q: Do you have an anecdote about TennGreen Land Conservancy that really moved you?
A: TennGreen is, of course, its people, and our best “people” story is accompanying Steven Walsh, TennGreen’s Senior Development Officer, on a Virgin Falls hike years and years ago before the area was purchased by the State of Tennessee. On this hike, we were dedicated to finding a fallen walnut tree so we could collect a branch to repurpose, with the help of a master woodworker, as gifts for TennGreen volunteers. I’ll never forget lugging that heavy branch back to the trailhead alongside Steven! Note: State policies now prohibit the destruction, digging, cutting, removing, or possession of any tree, shrub, or other plant without a permit granted by the Director of Parks and Recreation. LEAVE NO TRACE!
Q: Does anyone in your life play a role in supporting your involvement or providing inspiration?
A: (Ted) My wife of almost 54 years, Gloria, daughter Ashley, son David, and their families are not only a fountain of support but a fire brigade of assistance.
Q: What other organizations or causes do you support?
A: We support the Scouting Movement, Tennessee State Parks, National Parks, American Archeological Association, the Nature Conservancy, and the like for conservation.
Q: If you could change the world, what would you do?
A: Let there be Peace on Earth and Good Will to All who share it.
Q: If your family had a slogan, what would it be?
A: “Service to all” would be our motto, and “Ask not what others can do for you, but what you can do for others.”
Q: What do you hope to accomplish with your philanthropy?
A: We hope to create lasting and replicable results.
Q: What do you wish everyone knew about land conservation?
A: That if we don’t protect our lands, who will?
Q: How do you feel when you make philanthropic gifts?
A: We are so fortunate that we can and sorry we can’t do more.
Q: What makes you hopeful and happy?
A: It makes us hopeful and happy to see our places in the eternal need for conservation support taken up joyfully by those of younger generations.
Q: What do you believe would most transform Tennessee?
A: Responsible Civic Education in all school grades.
Q: Why land conservation? And why now?
A: Land was thought to be forever. Now, we’re learning it must be carefully tended or LOST, and the land lost will be doubled every year within our grandchildren’s lifetime.
Q: What’s your favorite way to spend time in nature?
A: Active reflection!
Q: What’s your favorite natural area to visit in Tennessee?
A: The South Cumberland Plateau in all its aspects!
Interested in getting involved with TennGreen? Learn how you can help here.